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Dawn Wells
Wells as Mary Ann on Gilligan's Island in 1964
BornDawn Elberta Wells
(1938-10-18)October 18, 1938
Reno, Nevada, U.S.
DiedDecember 30, 2020(2020-12-30) (aged 82)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1961–2019
Spouse Larry Rosen ​ ​(m. 1962; div. 1967)​

Dawn Elberta Wells (October 18, 1938 – December 30, 2020) was an American actress known for her role as Mary Ann Summers on the CBS sitcom Gilligan's Island.

Early life

Wells was born to Evelyn (Steinbrenner) and Joe Wesley Wells in Reno, Nevada, where she attended Reno High School. Her father owned a local Reno shipping company called "Wells Cargo" (not the trailer manufacturer). After high school graduation, Wells attended Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, where she majored in chemistry. She transferred to the University of Washington in Seattle, where she graduated in 1960 with a degree in theater arts and design. She was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority.

Career

In 1959, Wells was crowned Miss Nevada and represented her state in the Miss America 1960 pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

In Hollywood, Wells made her debut on ABC's The Roaring 20s and the movie The New Interns and was cast in episodes of such television series as The Joey Bishop Show, 77 Sunset Strip, Cheyenne, Maverick, and Bonanza.

Wells appeared as a guest star on Wagon Train, Tales of Wells Fargo, 87th Precinct, Surfside 6, Hawaiian Eye, Ripcord, The Everglades, The Detectives, It's a Man's World, Channing, Laramie, Burke's Law, The Invaders, The Wild Wild West, The F.B.I., Vega$, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Matt Houston, ALF, Herman's Head, Three Sisters, Pastor Greg, and Roseanne.

Gilligan's Island

She took her signature role of Mary Ann on Gilligan's Island in 1964. She reprised her character in the various Gilligan's Island reunion specials, including the reunion cartoon spin-off Gilligan's Planet and three reunion movies: Rescue from Gilligan's Island, The Castaways on Gilligan's Island, and The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island.

In 1993, Wells published Mary Ann's Gilligan's Island Cookbook with co-writers Ken Beck and Jim Clark, including a foreword by Bob Denver. Alan Hale Jr., who played The Skipper on Gilligan's Island, contributed a family recipe ("Kansas Chicken and Dumplings") to her cookbook. Hale's character was the inspiration behind such concoctions as Skipper's Coconut Cream Pie, Skipper's Navy Bean Soup, and Skipper's Goodbye Ribeye, and he is depicted as Skipper Jonas Grumby in numerous photographs throughout the book. She said in a 2014 interview with GoErie.com, "Alan could not have been kinder to a young actress. He was a real peach."

In 1997, Wells starred as her Gilligan’s Island character in a music video for the song “Mary Ann” by the pop-punk band Squirtgun (Lookout Records label mates of Green Day). The song describes an infatuation with Mary Ann and sings praises to the wholesome character, specifically choosing her over Ginger. The video reached the top 40 of MTV’s Alternative Music charts, and was featured as part of a variety of alternative-themed music video programs.

In 2005, Wells consigned for sale her original gingham blouse and shorts ensemble from her signature role. Beverly Hills auction house Profiles in History sold it for $20,700.

In 2014, Wells released What Would Mary Ann Do? A Guide to Life, which she co-wrote with Steve Stinson. The book was released to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Gilligan's Island.

Wells 1975 press release

Film

Wells had small roles in the early 1960s films Palm Springs Weekend and The New Interns, and later starred with Michael Dante in the independent 1975 film Winterhawk, playing a Western settler kidnapped by a Native American chief. Her other films include The Town That Dreaded Sundown, Return to Boggy Creek, Lover's Knot, Soulmates, Forever for Now, and Super Sucker. In fall 2011, she began filming Silent But Deadly (originally titled Hotel Arthritis), a comedy horror film released in 2012.

Theater

Following Gilligan's Island, Wells embarked on a theater career, appearing in nearly one hundred theatrical productions as of July 2009. She spent the majority of the 1970s, and 1980s, touring in musical theater productions. She also had a one-woman show at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas in 1985.

MeTV

In May 2016, Wells was named Marketing Ambassador to MeTV Network. In January 2019, she promoted the Gilligan's Island television series on the MeTV television network.

Humanitarian activities

Wells in 2015

For several years, Wells operated a business, Wishing Wells Collections, making clothing for people with limited mobility. She was the founder of the Idaho Film and Television Institute, a not-for-profit (501(c)(3)) educational organization with "a vision of education, technical training and economic development in Southeastern Idaho." She organized SpudFest, a regional annual family movie festival, and was a spokeswoman for Idaho Potatoes.

Wells lent her support to the Denver Foundation, a West Virginia charity chaired by Dreama Denver, widow of Wells' Gilligan’s Island co-star Bob Denver. In November 2009, she appeared at the Denver Foundation's Christmas Wish Celebrity Auction, helping to raise funds for the disabled and disadvantaged in West Virginia.

Personal life and death

Wells married Larry Rosen, a talent agent, on October 27, 1962. The couple had no children and were divorced in 1967.

In 2018, a GoFundMe page was set up to help Wells cope with financial trouble from medical care after a fall.

Wells died on December 30, 2020, at the age of 82 in Los Angeles, due to causes not related to COVID-19 during the pandemic in California.

Filmography

Sources:

  • 1997: Mary Ann - music video by the alternative band Squirtgun, appearing as Mary Ann

References

  1. ^ Pilato, Herbie (2014). Glamour, Gidgets, and the Girl Next Door: Television's Iconic Women from the 50s, 60s, and 70s. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 147. ISBN 978-1589799707.
  2. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/30/arts/television/dawn-wells-dead.html
  3. ^ Potempa, Phillip. "From the Farm: Leftover turkey perfect for 'Gilligan's Island' casserole". nwi.com. Retrieved July 9, 2011.
  4. Goldberg, Delen (January 12, 2012). "10 past Nevada pageant winners who have gained notoriety". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  5. "Kevin Cuneo: Mary Ann's still a sweetheart". GoErie.com - Erie, PA. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  6. "The world according to Dawn Wells, a.k.a. 'Gilligan Island's' Mary Ann". Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  7. "Silent But Deadly: Film Review". HollywoodReporter.com. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
  8. "Dawn Wells joins MeTV as 'marketing ambassador'". www.robertfeder.com. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  9. Wells, Dawn (2006). "Wishing Wells Collections". dawn-wells.com. Archived from the original on September 19, 2010. Retrieved July 16, 2010.
  10. ^ "Idaho Film and Television Institute". idahofilminstitute.org. Archived from the original on April 6, 2006. Retrieved July 24, 2010.
  11. "Peeling Idaho Potatoes". idahopotato.com. Idaho Potato Commission. 2010. Retrieved July 16, 2010.
  12. "Bob Denver website". bobdenver.com. Archived from the original on September 13, 2008. Retrieved July 16, 2010.
  13. Dugan, Christina (September 7, 2018). "Gilligan's Island Star Dawn Wells 'Embarrassed' but 'Flattered' After GoFundMe Raises $130K". MSN.com. Archived from the original on September 8, 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
  14. Nolasco, Stephanie (September 7, 2018). "'Gilligan's Island' star Dawn Wells says she is 'grateful' for 'friends and fans who care' while suffering financially". Fox News. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
  15. Pedersen, Erik. "Dawn Wells Dies of Covid-19: Mary Ann on 'Gilligan's Island' was 82". msn.com.
  16. Saperstein, Pat. "Dawn Wells, 'Gilligan's Island's' Mary Ann, Dies of COVID at 82". www.variety.com.
  17. Bond, Paul (December 30, 2020). "Dawn Wells, Mary Ann on 'Gilligan's Island,' Dies at 82". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  18. "Gilligan's Island actress Dawn Wells dies of Covid complications". BBC News. December 30, 2020. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  19. "Dawn Wells". www.tcm.com. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  20. "Dawn Wells - Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  21. "Dawn Wells | TV Guide". TVGuide.com. Retrieved December 31, 2020.

External links

Nevada pageant winners
Miss Nevada
Miss Nevada USA
Miss Nevada Teen USA
Gilligan's Island
Episodes
Characters
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